v.yXv 

v.y.vXvM 


hnTUW  B!^)T4»r  a>^  prf 


^HHAUASOZ 


U.  S.  DEPARTMENT  OF 
AGRICULTURE 

FARMERS'  BULLETIN  No.1015 


HOME  PRODUCTION  OF  SUPPLIES  offers  the 
southern  farm  family  an  easy  way  to  reduce 
the  cost  of  living. 

Because  of  the  long  growing  season,  and  the  short, 
mild  winters  of  the  Cotton  Belt,  garden  vegetables 
may  be  grown  there  in  abundance  throughout  the 
year  with  little  labor  and  at  trifling  expense. 

Necessary  live-stock  products  and  feeds  for  farm 
animals  can  be  produced  on  the  farm  much  more 
cheaply  than  they  can  be  bought. 

This  bulletin  suggests  ways  in  which  southern 
farmers  may  make  the  most  of  opportunities  for 
the  home  production  of  commodities  that  otherwise 
would  necessitate  cash  outlay. 


Washington,  D.  C.  Issued  January,  1919;  revised  August,  1923 


2 


(p//r<2,6 


PRODUCING  FAMILY  AND  FARM  SUP¬ 
PLIES  ON  THE  COTTON  FARM.  ' 


By  C.  L.  Goodrich,  assistant  farm  economist ,  Office  of  Farm  Management  and 
Cost  of  Production,  Bureau  of  Agricultural  Economics. 

CONTENTS. 

Page. 

Sirup  and  sugar _ n 

Animal  food  for  the  family _  11 

Feed  for  the  family  live  stock _  13 

Acres  needed  to  support  a  2-mule  . 
family  farm _  14 


Importance  of  home  production  of 


supplies _  3 

The  vegetable  garden _  5 

The  fruit  garden _ 10 

Cereals _  i  o 


PTlHE  VITAL  FACTORS  of  comfortable  farm  life  are  food,  shel- 
-L  ter,  and  fuel,  and  so  far  as  these  are  present  in  quantity 
and  quality  beyond  the  necessities  for  mere  existence  the  standard 
of  living  and  the  consquent  health  and  happiness  of  the  family 
increased. 

Because  of  the  long  growing  season,  and  the  short,  mild  winters  of 
the  Cotton  Belt,  garden  vegetables  may  be  grown  there  in  abundance 
throughout  the  year  with  little  labor  and  at  trifling  expense.  Neces¬ 
sary  live-stock  products  and  feeds  for  farm  animals  can  be  produced 
on  the  farm  more  cheaply  than  they  can  be  bought. 

Aside  from  the  hygienic  and  social  values,  the  abundance  of  the 
living  furnished  to  the  family  by  the  farm  is  among  the  important 
factors  that  determine  the  amount  of  the  net  income  of  the  farm 
and  the  safety  and  profitableness  of  the  business.  Hence  the  degree 
to  which  the  farm  is  furnishing  the  family  food  and  the  farm  feed 
should  be  one  of  the  first  tests  of  efficiency  in  farm  management.  On 
small  farms  the  living  furnished  without  money  cost  is  often  a  vital 
matter,  since  the  cash  return  of  such  farms  is  relatively  small. 

IMPORTANCE  OF  HOME  PRODUCTION  OF  SUPPLIES. 

In  a  group  of  106  farms  in  Brooks  County,  Ga.,  in  a  community 
that  makes  a  specialty  of  producing  the  farm  food  and  farm  feeds, 
the  families  in  1911  consumed  food  ranging  in  value  from  $104  to 
$1,283  per  family,  averaging  $526.  Approximately  85  per  cent  of 
this  food  was  produced  on  the  farm.  That  part  of  the  food  pro¬ 
duced  on  the  farm  constituted  an  average  of  18  per  cent  of  the  net 
income  of  farms  having  250  acres  or  more  of  crop  land  and  48  per 
cent  of  the  net  income  of  farms  having  less  than  75  acres  of  crop 

3 


4 


FARMERS  ’  BULLETIN  1015. 


land.  (See  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture  Bulletin  No. 
648.) 

On  149  farms  fairly  evenly  distributed  in  Gaston  County,  N,  C., 
Troup  County,  Ga.,  and  McLennan  County,  Tex.,  the  average  family 
consumed  food  to  the  value  of  $454.  Of  this  69  per  cent  was  pro¬ 
duced  on  the  farm.  (See  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture 
Bulletin  No.  410.) 

The  family  garden  and  family  live  stock,  which  supply  the  larger 
part  of  the  family  food,  are  usually  cared  for  at  times  when  the 
work  interferes  comparatively  little  with  the  regular  farm  enter¬ 
prises,  and  largely  by  labor  that  would  otherwise  be  idle.  Conse¬ 
quently  these  supplies  can  usually  be  produced  on  most  farms  at 
less  cost  than  if  they  were  bought  elsewhere. 

When  a  farmer  makes  a  practice  of  producing  the  family  food 
on  the  farm,  this  itenq  plus  fuel  and  shelter  furnished  by  the  farm, 
has  a  value  equal  to  the  interest  on  the  investment  or  rent  for  the 
entire  farm  up  to  a  considerable  size  of  business. 

In  the  group  of  farms  in  Brooks  County,  Ga.,  mentioned  above, 
the  average  value  of  food,  fuel,  and  shelter  furnished  the  family  on 
farms  of  less  than  75  acres  of  crop  land  was  1^  times  as  much  as 
interest  on  the  total  investment  at  8  per  cent,  and  on  farms  of  over 
250  acres  of  crop  land  it  averaged  48  per  cent  of  the  interest  on  the 
investment.  On  the  entire  group  of  106  farms,  averaging  145  acres 
of  crop  land,  the  food,  fuel,  and  shelter  furnished  the  family  aver¬ 
aged  82  per  cent  of  the  interest  on  the  average  investment  at  8  per 
cent. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  foods  consumed  by  the  average  adult 
person  on  the  255  farms  in  North  Carolina,  Georgia,  and  Texas, 
mentioned  above  (two  children  of  12  years  or  under  being  con¬ 
sidered  equivalent  to  one  adult). 


Average  annual  consumption  of  various  articles  of  food  per  adult  person  hy 
255  farm  families  in  North  Carolina,  Georgia,  and  Texas. 


Article. 

Unit  of 
measure. 

Amount 
consumed 
per  adult 
person. 

Article. 

Unit  of 
measure. 

Amount 
consumed 
per  adult 
person. 

Vegetables: 

Fruit — Continued. 

Beans,  green . 

Pecks . 

5.  7 

G  rapes . 

Bushels 

0.25 

Beets . 

. . .do . 

3.  5 

Berries 

Quarts .... 

11.  5 

Cabbages . ♦. _ 

Heads.. 

14 

Cereals- 

Cucumbers . 

Pecks . 

2 

Corn  meal 

Pounds 

130 

Melons . 

Number... 

15 

Flour. 

do 

224 

Onions . 

Pecks . 

1.5 

Sirup 

4 

Peas . 

1. 13 

Smior  (M  Hounds')  —  sirnn 

do 

8.2 

Potatoes  (Irish) . 

Bushels... 

2 

Dairy  products: 

Potatoes  (sweet) . 

. .  .do . 

5.  11 

Butter 

Sweet  corn . 

Dozen . 

6.  8 

TUittormilk  > — milk 

Onarts 

482 

Tomatoes . 

Pecks . 

4.  1 

Milk 

Turnips . 

4.  5 

Beef 

Pounds 

12 

Fruit: 

Pork  and  lard . 

_ do . . 

138 

Apples . 

Bushels.. . 

1.4 

Poultry  products: 

Pears . 

...do . 

.  3 

Poult  ry 

do 

57  5 

Peaches . 

. .  .do . 

1.5 

Feres . 

Dnzon 

28.4 

PRODUCING  FAMILY  AND  FARM  SUPPLIES.  5 

THE  VEGETABLE  GARDEN. 

In  the  colder  parts  of  tne  country  many  farmers,  knowing  the 
value  to  health  and  happiness  of  a  variety  and  abundance  of  freshly 
gathered  vegetables  for  home  consumption,  not  only  provide  a  good 
summer  garden  but  also  go  to  considerable  expense  in  building  cold 
frames  and  hotbeds  to  give  an  early  start  to  some  of  the  spring  and 
summer  vegetables,  and  sometimes  even  to  grow  certain  vegetables 
in  the  winter.  In  addition  to  these  devices  for  lengthening  the 
growing  season,  they  provide  winter  storage  for  an  ample  supply  of 
such  fruits  and  vegetables  as  can  be  kept,  although  these  safeguards 
add  greatly  to  their  cost. 

The  southern  farmer  has  an  advantage  over  the  northern  farmer 
in  a  long  growing  season  and  a  short,  mild  winter,  and  does  not 
require  such  extensive  equipment  for  the  maintenance  of  his  supply 
of  vegetables.  With  little  extra  effort  he  can  have  an  abundance  of 
fresh  vegetables  in  great  variety  throughout  the  year,  with  very 
little  need  of  artificial  protection  unless  it  be  for  a  few  weeks  during 
the  winter  along  the  northern  border  of  the  cotton  belt.  Throughout 
the  cotton  area  cabbage,  collards,  kale,  spinach,  turnips,  parsnips, 
carrots,  lettuce,  and  radishes  will  grow  in  the  open  in  the  winter. 

The  net  returns  for  labor  expended  on  a  good  farm  garden  are 
perhaps  greater  than  those  from  any  other  area  of  equal  size  on  the 
farm,,  partly  because  of  the  more  intensive  character  of  the  garden 
enterprise  and  partly  because  the  garden  can  be  cared  for  by  labor 
that  otherwise  would  not  be  utilized. 

SIZE  OF  THE  GARDEN. 

* 

The  size  of  the  garden  necessary  to  supply  vegetables  for  a  family 
of  a  given  number  of  persons  will  be  influenced  largely  by  the  cli¬ 
matic  conditions,  the  fertility  of  the  soil,  the  likes  and  dislikes  of 
the  family,  and  the  method  of  cultivation  of  the  garden,  whether 
largely  by  horse  labor,  by  man  labor,  or  by  a  combination  of  both. 

There  are  very  few  detailed  records  of  farm  gardens  giving  the 
.  size  and  actual  production  and  cost. 

The  farmers  in  the  group  of  farms  in  Brooks  County,  Ga.,  men¬ 
tioned  above,  planted  an  average  of  one-fourth  of  an  acre  in  potatoes 
(mostly  sweet  potatoes)  per  adult  person,  or  equivalent,  in  the  family, 
and  one-eighth  acre  in  other  vegetables.  Potatoes  to  the  value  of 
$3.55  per  person  were  sold,  the  remainder  being  used  on  the  farm. 
Watermelons  were  not  included  in  the  garden,  as  most  of  the  farms 
grow  melons  for  shipping,  and  the  families  were  supplied  from  the 
farm  crop.  The  12  farmers  who  planted  melons  for  home  use  alone 
planted  32  hills  10  by  10  feet,  or  a  little  over  one-thirteenth  of  an 


6 


farmers’  BULLETIN  1015. 


acre,  for  each  adult,  or  adult  equivalent,  in  the  family.  These 
Brooks  County  farms  are  on  the  lighter  Coastal  Plain  soils,  where 
yields  are  moderate,  and  the  farmers  made  liberal  provision  for  the 
family. 

Department  Bulletin  602  gives  interesting  and  valuable  information 
on  the  sizes  of  gardens  and  the  value  of  products  for  some  southern 
town  families.  One  group  of  35  town  families  is  cited  which  raised 
an  average  of  nearly  $50  worth  of  vegetables  on  gardens  ranging  in 
size  from  300  to  499  square  yards.  A  group  of  543  town  gardens, 
averaging  723  square  yards,  or  about  one-seventh  of  an  acre,  pro¬ 
duced  an  average  of  $29.87  worth  of  vegetables.  The  average  cash 
outlay  for  these  gardens  was: 


Labor _  $1.51 

Seeds _ _ _  1.  51 

Fertilizer _  .  52 


Total _  3.  54 


The  labor  expenditure  was  limited  practically  to  the  cost  of  having 
the  garden  plowed  and  harrowed  for  planting.  Little  or  no  labor 
was  hired  during  the  season,  the  planting  and  care  of  the  garden 
in  all  cases  being  done  by  the  family. 

One  of  these  home  gardeners,  a  laborer  at  Charlotte,  N.  C.,  on 
five-eighths  of  an  acre  of  ground,  produced  dry  beans,  peas,  onions, 
cabbages,  turnips,  beets,  cucumbers,  tomatoes,  sweet  corn,  and  pep¬ 
pers  to  the  value  of  $92,  at  a  cash  expense  of  only  15  cents  for  some 
seed.  This  man  is  thrifty  and  saves  most  of  his  seed.  These  vege¬ 
tables,  with  the  exception  of  $2.80  worth  sold,  were  cared  for  and 
consumed  by  a  family  equivalent  in  size  to  seven  and  a  half  adult 
persons. 

A  driver  at  Cliffside,  N.  C.,  on  a  little  over  three-fourths  of  an 
acre,  produced  11  kinds  of  vegetables,  to  the  value  of  $97.20,  at  a  cash 
outlay  of  $5  for  preparation  and  $2  for  seeds.  The  family  of  four 
cared  for  the  garden  and  consumed  all  the  vegetables,  with  the 
exception  of  $4.50  worth  that  were  sold. 

A  gardener  at  Drayton,  S.  C.,  on  a  little  less  than  three-fourths 
of  an  acre,  produced  14  vegetables  to  the  value  of  $72.65,  at  a  cash 
outlay  of  $7.50  for  preparation,  $3.20  for  seeds,  and  $6  for  fertilizers. 
These  vegetables  were  all  consumed  by  the  family,  equivalent  to  six 
adult  persons. 

Another  home  gardener  on  1^  acres,  with  a  family  equivalent  to 
five  adult  persons,  produced  vegetables  to  the  value  of  $86.90,  at  a 
cash  expense  of  $2.50  for  preparation,  $1.60  for  seeds,  and  $3.10  for 
fertilizers,  a  total  outlay  of  $7.20.  Twenty-eight  dollars’  worth  of 
these  vegetables  were  sold  and  42  quarts  were  canned  for  winter  use. 


PRODUCING  FAMILY  AND  FARM  SUPPLIES. 

A  clerk  at  Williamston,  S.  C.,  with  a  family  equivalent  to  three 
adult  persons,  on  one-third  of  an  acre  produced  10  bushels  of  sweet 

potatoes,  2 1  bushels  of  Irish  potatoes,  4  bushels  of  green  beans,  1 
gallon  of  garden  peas,  3  bushels  of  onions,  200  heads  of  cabbage,  10 
pecks  of  turnips,  8  pecks  of  beets,  8  pecks  of  cucumbers,  26|  bushels 
of  tomatoes,  12  cantaloupes,  24  dozen  ears  of  sweet  corn,  10  bushels 
of  lettuce,  100  collards,  2  pecks  of  peppers,  1  bushel  of  okra,  a  few 
squashes,  and  3  bushels  of  peanuts,  valued  altogether  at  $89.  The 
cash  expenditure  on  this  garden  was  for  preparation,  $2 ;  for  seeds, 
$4.80;  for  fertilizer,  $1.20;  for  extra  labor,  $1.50;  a  total  expenditure 
of  $9.50.  Fifty-four  dollars’  worth  of  vegetables  were  sold  and  100 
quarts  canned  for  winter  use. 

PLANNING  THE  GARDEN. 

F or  ease  in  care  of  the  farm  garden  and  to  save  time  and  labor,  it 
is  desirable  to  lay  it  off  so  that  it  can  be  plowed  and  cultivated  largely 
with  horse  tools.  Plant  everything  in  long,  straight  rows  and  make 
the  rows  far  enough  apart  for  horse  implements  in  working  the  crops. 

.  List  the  long-season  crops  in  one  group  and  the  short-season  and 
succession  crops  in  another  in  the  order  of  their  planting  dates  and 
let  this  determine  the  order  of  planting  in  the  garden.  This  will  tend 
to  keep  the  unplanted  part  in  a  single  piece  so  that  it  will  be  more 
easily  kept  in  condition  for  the  later  plantings  and  will  make  it  pos¬ 
sible  to  clear  up  larger  areas  for  succession  planting  op  for  second- 
crop  plantings. 

For  reference  in  planning  the  farm  garden  and  determining  the 
proper  size  for  the  family  needs,  the  following  average  yields  per  100 
feet  of  row  are  given.  Plan  to  have  a  surplus,  then  there  will  always 
be  enough. 

Yields  of  garden  vegetables. 


Vegetable. 


Asparagus . 

Beans,  snap: 

Spring . 

Fall . 

Beans,  Lima,  in  pod .... 
Beets: 

Thinnings  for  greens 

Roots . 

Cabbage: 

Spring . 

Fall . 

Carrot . 

Cauliflower . 

Kohl-rabi . 

Corn,  sweet . 

Cucumbers . 

Eggplant . 

Kale . 

Lettuce . 


Yield  per 
100  feet 
of  row. 


bunches. . 


50 


pecks . 
.do. . . 
.do. . . 


6 

4 

7 


do... 
do. . . 


3 

12 


heads. 
..do... 
pecks, 
heads, 
pecks. 
. .ears, 
pecks, 
.fruits, 
pecks, 
heads. 


40 

25 

5 

25 

10 

50-75 

7 

74 

12 

50-100 


Vegetable. 


Melon: 

Muskmelon . 

Watermelon . 

Okra . 

Onions . 

Parsnips . 

Peas  in  the  pod . 

Peppers . 

Potatoes: 

White . 

Sweet . 

Salsify  (oyster  plant) 

Spinach . 

Squash: 

Summer . 

Winter . 

Tomatoes . 

Turnips . 


Yield  per 
100  feet 
of  row. 

melons . . 

60 

...do — 

15 

.pecks. . 

6 

3 

. .  .do — 

8 

. .  .do — 

2.5 

9 

3 

.  ..do — 

4 

. .  .do — 

5 

. .  .do — 

8 

squash  -  - 

50 

. .  .do - 

25 

.pecks. . . 

12 

. .  .do — 

10 

8 


farmers’  BULLETIN  1015. 


The  following  table  gives  the  earliest  planting  periods  and  the 
latest  planting  periods  for  the  short  season  and  succession  crops,  and 
the  earliest  planting  period  for  long-season  garden  crops  in  the  mid¬ 
dle  cotton  belt. 


Planting  periods ,  width  of  roiv,  and  distance  of  plants  in  the  row  for  garden 

vegetables  in  the  middle  cotton  belt. 


% 

Distance  apart. 

Vegetable. 

Earliest  planting 
period. 

Latest  planting 
period. 

Rows  for 
horse  cul¬ 
tivation. 

Plants  in  the 
row. 

Jan.  15-Feb.  28.. 

Aug.  15-30 . 

Feet. 

3 

1J  to  2  feet. 

Do. 

Feb.  1-28 . 

3 

Unln  . 

Oct.  1-30.......  - 

3 

l  to  lj  feet. 

3  inches. 

Oct.  1-15 . 

3 

Feb.  1-Mar.  15. . 

3 

3  to  4  inches. 

1  to  lj  feet. 

2  to  3  inches. 

3  to  0  inches. 

6  to  8  inches. 

4  to  G  inches. 

1J  to  2  feet. 

4  to  8  inches. 

6  to  12  inches. 

Feb.  1-28 . 

Aug.  1-15 . 

3 

Oct.  1-15 . 

3 

3 

Beet  _ - . . 

Feb.  15-Mar.  15.. 

Aug.  1-30 . . 

3 

. do . 

3 

. do . . 

3 

. do .  . 

3 

flftlftrv  . . . . 

Aug.  1-Sept.  30.. 
Oct.  1-15 . 

3 

Lftttnep.  . 

3 

8  to  12  inches. 

Mustard  . . . 

3 

Do. 

Sninnph  _ _ 

3 

4  to  G  inches. 

Beans,  snap  . . 

Mar.  1-30 _ _ 

Aug.  15-30 . 

3 

5  to  10  inches. 

Corn,  sweet  . 

Aug.  1-15 . . . 

3 

12  to  18  inches. 

Sweet  potato  . 

Mar.  15-Apr.  15.. 
. do . 

July  15-30 . 

3 

Do. 

Tomato  . .’. . . 

July  15-Aug.  15.. 

4 

3  feet. 

Asparagus  . 

Feb.  15-Mar.  15.. 

4 

2  feet. 

Brussels  snrnnts 

. do 

3 

Do. 

Parsnip  . 

. do . 

3 

4  to  G  inches. 

Salsify 

. do 

3 

Do. 

Bean,  lima  . 

Mar.  15-Apr.  15. 

4 

4  feet. 

Cucumber  . 

_  do ... t . 

6 

15  to  18  inches. 

Eggplant.  . 

_ do . . . 

3 

18  to  24  inches. 

Melon,  water  . 

. do . 

9 

9  feet. 

Melon  musk . 

....  do . 

6 

15  to  18  inches. 

Okra  ...  . 

....  do . 

3 

3  feet. 

Pepper  . 

....  do . 

3 

12  to  18  inches. 

gqna.sh,  summer 

....  do . . 

6 

4  feet. 

Squash,  winter  . 

_ do . 

9 

9  feet. 

For  hand  cultivation,  the  distance  apart  of  the  rows  of  kale,  onion, 
radish,  turnip,  beet,  carrot,  celery,  lettuce,  mustard,  spinach,  parsnip, 
and  salsify  may  be  reduced  to  18  or  even  15  inches. 

The  following  garden  planting  plan  is  suggested  for  an  average 
family  of  5  mature  persons,  or  their  equivalent,  2  children  under  12 
being  regarded  as  one  mature  person. 

Ease  in  cultivation  with  horse  tools  is  provided  for  by  making  the 
rows  200  feet  long  and  none  of  them  less  than  3  feet  apart.  If  it  is  de¬ 
sired  to  do  most  of  the  work  with  hand  tools  the  distances  apart  of 
the  rows  qf  the  smaller  vegetables  may  be  reduced  to  18  inches  or  even 
15  inches  in  some  cases,  thus  reducing  the  area  covered  by  the  garden. 


PRODUCING  FAMILY  AND  FARM  SUPPLIES. 


9 


Suggested  planting  of  vegetables  for  a  farm  family  of  5  adults  or  their  equiv¬ 
alent  in  the  middle  cotton  belt.  Size  of  plot  200  feet  long  by  1AA  feet  wide 

rows  200  feet  long. 


Row 

No. 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 
10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

10 

17 

18 

19 

20 
21 
22 

23 

24 

25 
20 

27 

28 

29 

30 

31 

32 

33 

34 

35 
30 


Row 

space. 


Feet. 


3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

4 
4 
4 
3 

3 
0 

6 

9 

9 

9 

9 

4 
4 
3 
3 


Earliest  planting 
period. 


Feb.  15-Mar.  15. 
Jan.  1-Feb.  28. . 


Feb.  1-28. 

- do _ 

- do _ 

- do _ 


- do . 

Feb.  15-Mar.  15. 

L..do . 

- do . 


.do. 

.do. 

.do. 


Mar.  1-30 . 

- do . 

. do . 

Mar.  15-Apr.  15. 

. do . 

Apr.  1-30 . 

. do . 

. do . 

Mar.  15-Apr.  15. 

. do . 

. do . 

. do . 

. do. . 

. do . 


144 


- do _ 

- do _ 

- do _ 

- do _ 

. do _ 

May  1-30. 

. do... 

. do. . . 

. do. . . 


First  crop. 


150  feet  asparagus,  50  feet  herbs.. 
Cabbage,  lettuce  between  cab¬ 
bages. 

Early  white  potatoes . 

—  do . 

Early  garden  peas . 

Early  turnips  (radishes  to  mark 
rows). 

Green  onions  (from  sets) . 

Spinach . 

Cauliflower . 

100  feet  early  beets,  100  early  car¬ 
rots. 

Dry  onions  from  seed  (radishes  to 
mark  rows). 

- do . 

100  feet  parsnip,  100  feet  salsify 
(radishes  to  mark  rows). 

Medium  garden  peas . 

Snap  beans . 

Early  sweet  corn . 

Early  sweet  potato . 

. do . 

Medium  early  snap  beans . 

Medium  early  sweet  corn . 

. do . 

Early  tomatoes . 

Medium  early  tomatoes. . . . 

Pole  Lima  beans . 

100  feet  egg  plant,  100  feet  pepper . . 
Okra . 


100  feet  cucumber,  100  feet  sum¬ 
mer  squash  . 

Muskmelon . 

Watermelon . 

. do. . . . 

. do . 

Winter  squash.. . 

Main  crop  tomatoes . -  - 

. do . 

Third  planting  sweet  corn . 

. do . 


Final  plantings. 


Period. 


Crop. 


Aug.  1-15. 


- do _ 

. do _ 

Aug.  30 _ 

Aug.  15-30. 


. do . . 

. do . . 

Sept.  15-Oct.  15. 


Aug.  1-30. 
Oct.  1-15. 

. do _ 

. do _ 

. do _ 

. do _ 


Sweet  corn. 

Do. 

Do. 

Cauliflower. 
Green  beans. 

Cabbage. 

Do. 

Spinach. 


Celery. 

Turnip. 

Kale. 

Green  onions. 

Beets. 

Collards. 


*  A  garden  laid  out  according  to  this  plan  would  contain  a  little 
less  than  two-thirds  of  an  acre.  In  addition  it  is  advised  that  one- 
half  acre  of  late  sweet  potatoes  and  one-third  of  an  acre  of  late  white 
potatoes  be  planted  to  provide  a  winter  supply  of  these  vegetables. 
It  is  suggested  that  cowpeas  or  some  other  catch  crop  be  planted 
between  the  rows  of  the  long-season  crops  at  their  last  cultivation 
and  that  fall  and  winter  cover  crops  be  planted  on  ground  not  occu¬ 
pied  by  vegetables  all  the  season,  these  crops  to  be  turned  under  foi 


'TnTnolrfL  of  tt»  cotton  bolt  .  ***.*«-.  — *  '» 
a  cold  frame  or  hotbed  to  give  an  early  start  to  early  cabbage,  cauli¬ 
flower,  lettuce,  tomatoes,  egg  plants  and  peppers.  . 

It  is  not  the  function  of  this  bulletin  to  discuss  variet  e  oi  e  hods 
of  cultivation  and  care  of  vegetables.  For  this  information  the 


10 


farmers’  BULLETIN  1015. 


reader  is  referred  to  Farmers’  Bulletin  934,  United  States  Department 
of  Agriculture,  on  Home  Gardening  in  the  South,  and  to  special 
bulletins  of  the  State  Colleges  and  Experiment  Stations  on  the 
subject. 

THE  FRUIT  GARDEN. 

Every  farm  should  have  a  fruit  garden  as  well  as  a  vegetable 
garden,  and  it  is  suggested  that  for  the  average  farm  family  one-half 
acre  be  devoted  to  this  purpose. 

Extending  the  lines  of  the  above-suggested  vegetable  garden  for 
150  feet  will  give  a  space  150  by  144  feet,  or  practically  one-half  aere. 
The  following  plan  is  suggested  for  the  fruit  garden : 

Space  15  feet. 

First  row,  5  apple  trees,  30  feet  apart. 

Space  30  feet. 

Second  row,  5  apple  trees,  30  feet  apart. 

Space  35  feet. 

Third  row,  3  pear,  2  fig,  2  plum,  20  feet  apart. 

Space  30  feet. 

Fourth  row,  3  Japanese  persimmon,  4  peach,  20  feet  apart. 

Space  30  feet. 

Fifth  row,  7  peach,  20  feet  apart. 

Space  15  feet. 

Sixth  row,  14  grape  vines,  10  feet  apart. 

Space  10  feet. 

Seventh  row,  25  dewberries,  5  feet  apart,  1  Scuppernong  grape. 

Space  9  feet. 

Strawberries  may  be  planted  between  the  rows  of  fruit  trees  until 
the  trees  become  so  large  as  to  shade  the  ground. 

For  varieties,  culture,  and  care  of  these  fruits  the  reader  is  referred 
to  special  bulletins  of  the  State  Colleges  and  Stations.  The  above 
plan  of  fruit  garden  is  adapted  from  Extension  Service  Circular  13 
of  the  Alabama  Polvtechnic  Institute.  The  reader  is  referred  to  this 
circular  for  further  suggestions  on  the  arrangement  of  the  fruit 
garden  and  for  suggestions  on  varieties  of  fruits  and  their  care  and 
culture. 

CEREALS. 

Twelve  to  eighteen  bushels,  or  practically  one  acre,  of  corn  should 
be  provided  for  the  average  family  to  fully  supply  meal  for  the 
family  and  provide  toll  for  grinding  and  seed  for  planting. 

It  will  probably  not  be  practicable  to  grow  wheat  for  the  family 
flour  in  all  parts  of  the  South,  but  on  the  heavier  soils  and  in  regions 
where  wheat  does  fairly  well  and  there  are  local  facilities  for  grind¬ 
ing,  at  least  35  bushels  or  3  acres  of  wheat  at  the  average  yield  of 


PRODUCING  FAMILY  AND  FARM  SUPPLIES. 


11 


about  12  bushels  per  acre  should  be  provided  per  family  for  family 

needs,  toll  for  grinding,  and  seed  for  replanting. 


SIRUP  AND  SUGAR. 

It  was  found  that  the  average  adult  person  in  255  southern  fam¬ 
ilies  consumed  4  gallons  of  sirup  and  54  pounds  of  sugar  per  year. 
The  sugar  was  for  the  most  part  bought  of  stores.  Now  this  sugar 
can  be  easily  manufactured  on  the  farm  by  boiling  sirup  a  little 
longer,  until  it  granulates.  One  gallon  of  sugar-cane  sirup  will  make 
6.6  pounds  of  sugar,  and  8.2  gallons  of  sirup  will  supply  54  pounds  of 
sugar  consumed  by  the  average  person.  This  with  the  4  gallons  con¬ 
sumed  as  sirup  will  mean  the  provision  for  12.2  gallons  per  person 
to  supply  sirup  and  sugar,  or  for  an  average  family  of  5  adult  per¬ 
sons,  61  gallons  of  sirup.  One-half  acre  of  sugar  cane  at  average 
yields  will  produce  this  sirup  and  sugar. 

ANIMAL  FOODS  FOR  THE  FAMILY. 

I* 

Farm  management  studies  indicate  that  farms  which  carry  enough 
productive  live  stock  to  furnish  milk,  meat,  poultry,  and  eggs  for  the 
family  and  have  a  surplus  for  sale,  pay  better  than  those  that  do  not 
follow  this  practice. 


MILK,  BUTTER,  AND  COTTAGE  CHEESE. 

>  • 

In  planning  to  provide  dairy  products  for  the  home,  the  size  of  the 
family,  size  of  the  farm,  pasture  facilities,  market  for  surplus  prod¬ 
ucts,  etc.,  must  be  considered.  In  these  brief  suggestions  no  attempt 
will  be  made  to  consider  them  all.  A  good  equipment  of  family  live 
stock  is  suggested  for  the  average  family,  and  it  is  left  to  the  farmer 
to  use  his  good  judgment  in  adjusting  the  suggested  plant  to  local 
conditions  and  to  suit  the  needs  of  his  individual  1  arm. 

The  plan  suggested  is  that  two  cows  be  provided  for  each  average 
farm  family,  insuring  an  ample  milk  supply  every  day  in  the  year ; 
that  they  freshen  six  months  apart,  preferably  spung  an  a  ,  ia 
they  average  2  gallons  each  of  milk  per  day  for  10  months  m  the 
year ;  and  that  they  be  milked  for  an  average  of  6  years  and  then 

^mhesecows  begin  to  give  milk  when  between  two  and I  Uiree ^ears 
of  age,-  and  are  turned  into  beef  during  the  years  when  they  become 
eLht  years  old,  they  will  have  produced  milk  practically  six  years, 
and  if  a  difference  of  three  years  ismamtained  between  then  ag 
Stfi  be  nec.ss.ry  to  .  «H  every  three  years  » 

On  this  basis  an  average  of  four  to  fhe  cams  im  -1 

from  two  cows  every  three  years,  with  the  probability  that  at 


12 


farmers’  BULLETIN  1015. 


two  of  them  will  be  heifer  calves,  which  will  be  ample  to  maintain 
the  family  herd  of  two  cows. 

High-grade  community  bulls  of  the  dairy  type  should  be  main¬ 
tained  on  farms  and  by  farmers  particularly  adapted  to  their  care. 

There  will  be  an  average  of  three  to  four  calves  to  be  disposed  of 
during  each  three-year  period.  When  there  is  plent}^  of  surplus 
milk  some  of  these  calves  will  be  made  into  veal.  If  there  is  plenty 
of  pasture  and  cheap  roughage  on  the  farm,  some  of  the  calves  will 
be  grown  to  feeder  size  to  sell  to  farmers  making  a  business  of  feed¬ 
ing,  or  they  may  be  fattened  on  the  home  farm.  The  cows  when  they 
have  passed  their  usefulness  as  milkers  will  be  fattened  on  the  farm 
or  sold  to  feeders,  who  will  convert  them  into  beef.  A  supply  of  sur¬ 
plus  calves  of  the  kind  this  plan  will  produce  will  soon  develop  those 
farms  in  the  community  that  are  adapted  to  it  into  cattle-raising 
and  cattle-feeding  farms. 

Some  farmers  will  not  care  to  raise  their  dairy  cows  but  will  prefer 
to  buy  them  after  they  have  reached  the  milking  age.  If  such  farmers 
will  maintain  community  bulls  of  a  beef  type,  the  calves  will  be  in 
greater  demand  among  beef -producing  farms  and  will  produce  a 
better  grade  of  beef  than  pure  dairy  stock. 

One  community  of  farmers  in  the  cotton  belt  takes  care  of  its  beef 
needs  in  the  following  manner:  A  beef  club  of  15  farmers  was 
formed.  Each  member  of  the  club  agrees  to  grow,  fatten,  and  dress 
at  least  one  beef  animal  every  15  months  for  distribution  among  the 
members  of  the  club.  By  following  this  system  in  regular  rotation 
there  is  fresh  beef  for  distribution  every  month. 

Such  plans  as  that  outlined  above  systematically  carried  out,  will 
go  a  long  way  toward  furnishing  the  farm  and  a  large  part  of  the 
nonproducing  village  and  town  population  with  dairy  products  and 
beef.  There  are  farms  in  nearly  every  southern  community  on  which 
are  kept  enough  cattle  to  supply  the  family  needs,  but  many  do  not 
measure  up  to  this  standard. 

PORK  AND  PORK  PRODUCTS. 

To  supply  the  pork  and  pork  products  for  the  average  farm  family 
at  least  one  pig  should  be  raised  per  adult  person  or  equivalent. 
1  his  should  provide  the  138  pounds  of  pork  products  consumed  by 
the  average  adult  (see  page  4),  with  a  small  surplus  for  sale. 

If  the  family  is  a  small  one  it  may  be  more  satisfactory  fo  buy  the 
pigs  than  to  produce  them  on  the  farm,  but  in  the  case  of  a  large 
family  it  will  pay  to  keep  a  brood  sow  to  raise  the  pigs.  In  most  com¬ 
munities  in  the  cotton  States  there  is  room  for  at  least  one  farmer  to 
do  a  thriving  business  by  producing  pigs  for  sale  as  weanlings  to 
neighboring  farmers. 


PRODUCING  FAMILY  AND  FARM  SUPPLIES. 


13 


The  few  pigs  necessary  to  supply  pork  products  for  home  consump¬ 
tion  can  live  largely  on  waste  products  from  the  farm,  garden,  and 
orchard,  and  on  scraps  from  the  kitchen. 

CHICKENS  AND  EGGS. 

/ 

A  flock  of  30  to  50  fowls  (exclusive  of  young  chickens)  properly 
selected  and  cared  for  will  furnish  all  the  eggs  and  poultry  meat 
needed  and  some  surplus  to  exchange  for  groceries.  A  flock  of  this 
size  can  be  kept  at  small  cost,  since  they  will  obtain  part  of  their  feed 
from  insects,  weeds  and  weed  seeds,  waste  grain  in  the  barnyard,  etc. 
They  may  be  cared  for  entirely  by  members  of  the  family  who  take 
no  part  in  the  field  work.  Under  such  circumstances  the  keep  of  a 
small  flock  costs  very  little,  and  such  a  flock  will  add  greatly  to  the 
supply  of  food  on  the  farm. 


FEED  FOR  THE  FAMILY  LIVE  STOCK. 

The  feeds  suggested  below  for  the  family  live  stock  are  not  neces¬ 
sarily  the  best  for  all  farms  and  all  conditions.  They  are  suggested 
simply  because  they  are  good  staple  feeds  and  also  for  the  purpose 
of  illustrating  the  method  of  procedure  in  making  provision  for  the 
needs  of  the  farm.  Other  feeds  of  equivalent  feeding  value  may 
be  substituted  according  to  the  judgment  of  the  person  making 
provision  for  the  farm  needs. 

THE  COWS. 


Feed  for  the  two  cows,  and  young  stock  equivalent  to  one-third 
of  a  mature  cow  per  year,  is  calculated  on  the  basis  of  pasture  for 
the  6  summer  months,  10  pounds  of  cowpea  hay,  5  pounds  of  oat 
hay,  and  10  pounds  of  corn  roughage  per  day  for  each  cow  for  the 
remaining  180  days  of  fall,  winter,  and  spring,  and  1  pound  of  grain 
per  3  pints  or  3  pounds  of  milk  per  day  for  the  cows  gi\ing  milk 
for  the  milking  period  of  44  weeks,  the  grain  feed  to  be,  say,  thiee- 
fifths  corn-and-cob  meal  and  two-fifths  cottonseed  meal  oi  their 


equivalents. 

This  will  call  for  1  ton  of  corn-and-cob  meal  and  1,234  pounds  of 
cottonseed  meal  and  5.23  tons  of  roughage  constituted  of  4,200 
pounds  of  corn  roughage,  2,100  pounds  of  oat  hay,  and  4,200  pounds 
of  cowpea  or  velvet  bean  hay. 

On  the  basis  of  average  yields  per  acre  for  the  cotton  States  of 
174  bushels  of  corn,  20  bushels  of  oats,  12  bushels  of  wheat,  three- 
fourths  of  a  ton  of  oat  hay,  three-fourths  of  a  ton  of  cowpea  hay. 
and  200  pounds  of  cottonseed  meal,  to  feed  the  family  dairy  uul 
will  require  2  acres  of  corn,  6J  acres  of  cotton,  1.5  acres  of  oat  hay, 
3  acres  of  cowpea  hay,  and  the  roughage  from  about  i  acres  oi  com. 


14 


farmers’  BULLETIN  1015. 


These  acreages  should  furnish  sufficient  grain  for  feed,  toll  for 
grinding,  and  seed  for  the  next  year’s  planting,  besides  sufficient 
roughage  for  liberal  feeding. 

A  good  Bermuda  pasture  of  5  acres  or  its  equivalent  in  other 
pasture  should  be  provided.  This  will  provide  summer  grazing  for 
the  cows,  the  hogs,  and  the  poultry.  Two  acres  in  rye,  corn,  and 
sorghum  to  be  fed  green  would  help  out  in  case  of  short  pasture 
during  the  spring  and  summer.  (For  aid  and  instruction  on  the 
feeding  and  care  of  the  cows  see  Farmers’  Bulletin  743  on  the 
Feeding  of  Dairy  Cows.) 

THE  HOGS. 

The  pigs  will  secure  a  large  part  of  their  feed  by  grazing  in  the 
cow  pasture,  on  winter  cover  crops  and  on  cowpeas  and  peanuts 
grown  between  the  corn  rows.  Allowing  5  bushels  of  corn  per  head 
for  finishing  the  5  pigs  necessary  for  an  average  family  will  require 
25  bushels,  or  the  com  from  1.5  acres. 

THE  CHICKENS. 

The  flock  of  fowls  will  pick  up  much  of  their  feed  from  waste 
scattered  over  the  farm.  However,  to  insure  good  production  of 
eggs  and  chickens,  it  will  be  wise  to  provide  70  pounds  of  grain 
per  fowl,  or,  say,  three-fourths  bushel  of  corn  and  1  bushel  of  oats 
per  fowl  for  the  40  fowls.  This  will  mean  30  bushels  of  com  and  40 
bushels  of  oats,  which  at  the  average  yields  will  require  2  acres  of 
corn  and  2  acres  of  oats. 

THE  WORK  STOCK. 

The  work  stock  in  the  South  is  usually  fed  on  grain  and  dry 
roughage  during  the  fall,  winter,  and  early  spring.  During  the 
remainder  of  the  year  this  is  supplemented  on  many  farms  by  pas¬ 
tures  and  green  feed  such  as  rye,  sorghum,  and  corn. 

A  fair  provision  per  head  of  work  stock  would  be  60  bushels  of 
corn,  40  bushels  of  oats,  and  3  tons  of  roughage — say  1^  tons  of 
cowpea  hay  or  velvet  bean  hay,  1  ton  of  oat  straw,  and  one-half  ton 
of  corn  roughage.  To  provide  this  feed  at  average  yields  will 
require  per  head  of  work  stock  3|  acres  of  corn,  2  acres  of  oats, 
2  acres  of  cowpea  hay  and  1  acre  of  pasture  and  green  feed. 

ACRES  NEEDED  TO  SUPPORT  A  2-MULE  FAMILY  FARM. 

On  the  basis  of  the  garden  and  feeding  program  suggested  and 
at  average  yields  per  acre  for  the  South,  the  following  acreages  of 


PRODUCING  FAMILY  AI^D  FARM  SUPPLIES. 


15 


food  and  feed  crops  will  be  required  to  feed  properly  a  2-mule  family 
farm,  averaging  5  adult  persons  or  their  equivalent : 


Garden :  Acres. 

White  potatoes _  ^ 

Sweet  potatoes _  ^ 

Other  vegetables _  2 

Fruit _ £ 

Corn  with  cowpeas : 

Grain  for  family  (meal) _ _ _  1 

For  2  cows _  2 

For  40  chickens _  2 

For  5  hogs - - -  l* 

For  2  head  work  stock _  7 


Acres. 


2 


-  13* 

Roughage  for  cows  and  work  stock _  (13*) 

Sugar  cane,  sirup  and  sugar  for  family _ * 

Oats  and  oat  hay : 

For  cows _ ' _  1* 

For  chickens _  2 

For  work  stock _ _ _  4 

-  7* 

Cowpea  or  velvet  bean  hay : 1 

•  For  cows _  (3) 

For  work  stock _  (4) 

-  (7) 

Soiling  crops,  for  cows -  2 

Cotton  seed,  for  cows1 -  (6*) 


Pasture : 

For  cows  and  hogs -  5 

For  work  stock _  2 

-  7 


This  totals  practically  25-J  acres  of  crop  land  and  7  acres  of 
pasture,  or  12f  acres  of  crop  land  and  3-J  acres  ot  pasture  per  head 
of  work  stock.  A  second  crop  is  taken  from  *  of  the  2 5 1  acres  and 
cowpeas  or  peanuts  should  be  planted  between  the  corn  rows.  This 
calculation  aims  to  furnish  the  family  liberally  with  food  and  to 
feed  the  farm  live  stock  liberally.  The  vegetable  and  fruit  gardens 
provided  for  are  of  sufficient  size  and  variety  of  product  to  furnish 
an  ample  supply  of  fresh  vegetables  and  fruits  for  the  av  erage 
cotton-belt  family  throughout  the  year,  as  well  as  enough  for  canning 
purposes.  There  should  be  a  surplus  of  garden  stuff,  dairy  and 
poultry  products  to  sell  or  exchange  for  groceries. 

The  acreages  are  calculated  on  the  basis  of  average  yields.  A\ei- 
age  yields  have  been  used  simply  by  way  of  illustration.  Many 
farms  produce  better  yields,  and  those  with  average  or  lower  than 
the  average  yields  should  better  them.  With  higher  yields  less  acre¬ 
age  will  be  needed  to  furnish  family  and  farm  needs,  and  the  esti- 

1  Figures  in  parentheses  are  for  by-products  or  second  crops. 


16 


FARMERS 7  BULLETIN  1015. 

mates  given  above  can  be  cut  down  or  maintained  and  the  surplus 

s°ld-  vwji 

Farm  management  studies  in  the  Southern  States  indicate  that  the 
best  paying  farms  not  only  produce  the  necessary  farm  feeds  but 
also  have  a  surplus  to  sell,  and  usually  on  those  farms  that  have  a 
surplus  the  live  stock  is  of  better  quality  and  is  better  cared  for  than 
on  those  farms  that  buy  staple  farm  feed. 

PUBLICATIONS  AVAILABLE  FOR  DISTRIBUTION  BY  THE  UNITED 
STATES  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE. 

Principles  of  Nutrition  and  Nutritive  Value  of  Food.  (Farmers’  Bulletin  142.) 
Preparation  of  Vegetables  for  the  Table.  (Farmers’  Bulletin  256.) 

Poultry  Management.  (Farmers’  Bulletin  287.) 

Care  of  Food  in  the  Home.  (Farmers’  Bulletin  375.) 

Sorghum  Sirup  Manufacture.  (Farmers’  Bulletin  477.) 

Corn  Meal  as  a  Food.  Ways  of  Using  It.  (Farmers’  Bulletin  565.) 

Poultry  House  Construction.  (Farmers’  Bulletin.) 

Honey  and  Its  Use  in  the  Home.  (Farmers’  Bulletin  653.) 

Food  for  Young  Children.  (Farmers’  Bulletin  717.) 

The  Feeding  of  Dairy  Cows.  (Farmers’  Bulletin  743.) 

Peanut  Oil.  (Farmers’  Bulletin  751.) 

Muscadine  Grape  Sirup.  (Farmers’  Bulletin  758.) 

Homemade  Fireless  Cookers  and  Their  Use.  (Farmers’  Bulletin  771.) 

How  to  Select  Foods.  (Farmers’  Bulletin  808.) 

How  to  Select  Foods:  II,  Cereal  Foods.  (Farmers’  Bulletin  817.) 

Foods  Rich  in  Protein.  (Farmers’  Bulletin  824.) 

How  to  Make  Cottage  Cheese  on  the  Farm.  (Farmers’  Bulletin  850.) 

Fresh  Fruits  and  Vegetables  as  Conservers  of  Other  Staple  Foods.  (Farmers’ 
Bulletin  871.) 

Swine  Management.  (Farmers’  Bulletin  874.) 

Making  Butter  on  the  Farm.  (Farmers’  Bulletin  876.) 

Food  from  an  Acre  of  Staple  Farm  Products.  (Farmers’  Bulletin  877.) 

Home  Storage  of  Vegetables.  (Farmers’  Bulletin  879.) 

Homemade  Fruit  Butters.  (Farmers’  Bulletin  900.) 

Evaporation  and  Drying  of  Fruits.  (Farmers’  Bulletin  903.) 

Farm  and  Home  Drying  of  Fruits  and  Vegetables.  (Farmers’  Bulletin  984.) 
Muscadine  Grape  Paste.  (Farmers’  Bulletin  1033.) 

Factors  That  Make  for  Success  of  Farming  in  the  South.  (Farmers’  Bulletin 

1121.) 

Baking  in  the  Home.  (Farmers’  Bulletin  1136.) 

Fermented  Pickles.  (Farmers’  Bulletin  1159.) 

Slaughtering  and  Use  of  Lamb  and  Mutton.  (Farmers’  Bulletin  1172.) 

Pork  on  the  Farm:  Killing,  Curing,  and  Canning.  (Farmers’  Bulletin  11S6.) 
Cheesemaking  on  the  Farm.  (Farmers’  Bulletin  1191.) 

Rice  as  Food.  (Farmers’  Bulletin  1195.) 

Home  Canning  of  Fruits  and  Vegetables.  (Farmers’  Bulletin  1211.) 


WASHINGTON  :  GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE  :  1923 


